Instagram Users Warned as Hackers Access Personal Information via Username
Instagram warning after hackers ‘access personal information using only username’

Image: Metro
Cybersecurity experts have warned Instagram users that hackers can access personal information, including emails and phone numbers, using only a username. This follows a recent discovery of a vulnerability in Instagram's account recovery function.
- 01Hackers accessed personal details using only Instagram usernames, according to cybersecurity experts.
- 02The vulnerability was highlighted by the newsletter International Cyber Digest, which tested it on celebrity accounts.
- 03Kylian Mbappé and Georgina Rodríguez were among those whose information was accessed.
- 04Meta's account recovery function is reportedly allowing unauthenticated access to sensitive information.
- 05The issue follows a previous incident where hackers exploited Meta's AI chatbot to change passwords.
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Cybersecurity experts have issued a warning to Instagram users after discovering that hackers can access personal information, such as email addresses and phone numbers, using only a username. This alarming revelation comes shortly after a separate incident where a loophole allowed attackers to gain access to accounts via Meta’s AI chatbot. The newsletter International Cyber Digest reported that by exploiting Instagram's account recovery function, they successfully retrieved sensitive information from several high-profile accounts, including those of footballer Kylian Mbappé and Georgina Rodríguez, partner of Cristiano Ronaldo. The newsletter criticized Meta for this security flaw, stating that it enables unauthenticated access to personal identifiable information (PII). Furthermore, experts estimate that around 100 high-value accounts have been compromised, with some being sold on the black market. The issue has raised significant concerns among users, especially after reports that former Meta security engineer Jane Manchun Wong also experienced unauthorized access to her account. Meta has been contacted for comments regarding these security breaches, and they have stated that the issue has been resolved.
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The breach raises serious privacy concerns for Instagram users, as personal information can be easily accessed by malicious actors.
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